Self-propelled vehicle.



No. 657,260. Patented Sept. 4, I900. H. WILCKE SELF PBOPELLED VEHICLE (Application filed Apr. 30, 1900A (N M L) 2 SheetsSheet l.

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No. 657,260. Patented Sept. 4, I900. H. WILCKE.

SELF PROPELLED VEHICLE.

(Application filed Apr. 30, 1900., (No Model.) v 2 Sheen-Sheet 2.

A 770RNE Y3 UNITED S TATES PATENT OFFICE.

NISY WILoKE, on LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND.

IQSELF'VIPEOPELLED VEHICLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 657,260, dated September 4, 1900.

Appli ati n filed April 30, 1900. Serial No. 14,977. (No model.)

To all whom it nuty concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY WILCKE, a subject of the Queen of England, and a resident of Tuebrook, Liverpool, in the county of Lancaster, England, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in or Connected with Self-Propelled Vehicles, of which the fol lowing is a specification.

This invention has reference more particularly to self-propelled vehicles for use on common roads, and more especially to such of this class of vehicles which carry loads of considerable weight-that is to say, other than mere light vehicles. It has, however, also reference to self-propelled vehicles for carrying heavy passenger traffic on common roads and also street or road railways and the like.

For convenience the invention will be first described as applied to the hauling or carrying of goods on common roads. According to this invention as applied to this purpose the object has been mainly to provide a means of transport by which heavy loads of goods can be sent comparatively-long distances with economy and also to provide such an arrangement and construction of rolling-stock or apparatus which can be maneuvered and worked with ease and precision.

The invention will be described with the aid of the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation showing rolling-stock according to the invention, and Fig. 2 is a side elevation showing a modified construction of same. I

The rolling-stock consists of a vehicle having two platforms a a, one at each end, each of which is mounted or supported from the road'by a single pair of road-wheels b in the center longitudinally of such platform, and in connection with the axles or axletrees c of the wheels I) there is provided a separate and lower frame 61 under the inner half of the two platforms. On these frames (Z the motor machinery is mounted and carried, and this machinery consists of a steamengine 6 and toothed gearingf of any suitable known kind driven from the engine 6 and meshing with a toothed circular rack f on each of the road wheels I). The wheels of the gearing, which mesh with and drive the road-Wheel racks f, are mounted on a secondary shaft f supported in bearings fixed on the under frame d. The platforms a a are steadied from the frame 62 by bars 9, coupling them together so that the platforms are prevented from tipping up in either direction, and this coupling may be provided with more or less play or through a spring to provide non-rigid or elastic con nection. The connection between the axles c and the carriage-platforms is through springs a the centers of which are connected rigidly with the axles and their ends with the beams o of the platforms.

d, constituting together two carriages, there is a third carriage h, carrying the steam-generator i for supplying the two steam-engines c with steam, 1" being the steam-supply pipes. The carriage or platform h is mounted on two pairs of wheels j, each of which pairs is adapted to be moved out of the vertical longitudinal plane of the carriages for steering, this being effected in any of the wellknown ways common in motor-vehicles or traction engines. Only one pair of these wheels may be moved at a time or both pairs may be moved, and as these wheels are moved in one direction or the other the vehicles will all turn or maneuver one way or the other. This steering is effected, preferably, from an upper platform i above the steam generator i. To the vehicles h the two frames d are connected by a loose joint or hinge 7t, and about these hinges the three vehicles can move in relation to each other. This hinge serves as a coupling and also as a means of preventing the frames at from moving up and down at this end, and the three parts at d it constitute an articulated frame. The joints or hinges 7c are in some cases pro vided with a slot, or one of them is, in order to avoid the whole load coming on the motors at once, and so facilitate starting. By this construction of rolling-stock the whole of the load placed on the carrying-platforms a a Between the two platforms a, a" and their respective lower frames come upon their respective driving road IOC upon them. Then as regards the propelling machinery it is bedded firmly on the under frames d, and the axles 0 being also fixed on these frames rigidity between the machinery and the driving-wheels b is provided and a true and smooth running gearing with little friction is afforded.

In the modification shown in Fig. 2 the part 7L, on which the boiler 73 is mounted, is rigidly connected with or forms part of one of the under frames 01, and only one pair of supporting-wheels j. are employed to support it from the road. This pair of wheels are the steering-wheels of the carriage and are moved in any suitable known way, as above described.

The couplings or hinges 7.; are preferably made in the form of a joint of any known suitable kind, so that the frame (1 and the carriage-platform It may move independently or in relation to each other in the horizontal plane, and so avoid any straining of these parts on this plane due to unevennesses in the road-surface over which they are traveling.

In lieu of steam being the motive power employed compressed air or electricity may be used, in which latter case storage-cells would be used on the platform h, while the electric motor would be fixed in the under frames (Z and operate on the driving-wheels I) similarly as the engines (2 or in any known suitable way.

In. the case of the rolling-stock or vehicles being for carrying passengers instead of goods the car-bodies would be mounted on the platforms a a or beams a but otherwise the construction will be substantially the same as that above described.

\Vhat is claimed in respect of the hereindescribed invention is- 1. I11 self-propelled rolling-stock or vehicles for use on common roads, the combination of two platforms or frames for carrying the load, each supported by a single pair of wheels, one pair being the propelling-wheels, and adapted to receive and carry the whole load, and a platform or frame between said two load platforms or frames, and supported by wheels constituting the steering-wheelsof the rolling-stock or vehicles; substantially as set forth.

2. In self-propelled rolling-stock or vehicles for use on common roads, the combination of two platforms or frames for carrying the load, each supported by a single pair of wheels at the center, being the propellingwheels, and adapted to receive and carry the Whole load; a frame below each of said platforms or frames rigidly fixed to the axle, and carrying the motor machinery, the said machinery being geared directly to said drivingwheels, and a platform or frame between said two lower machinery-s11pporting frames supported by wheels constituting the steeringwheels of the rolling-stock or vehicles, and a loose hinge or joint connecting said latter frame, and a machinery-supporting platform or frame; substantially as set forth.

3. In self-propelled rolling-stock or vehicles for use on common roads, the combination of two load-platforms a a; a single axle c, and driving-whee s Z) disposed under the center of said platforms; a lower platform (Z under each platform connected with the axle c; driving-motor machinery c fixed on the under platforms d; an intermediate platform 7L provided with and supported upon the steeringwvlreelsj; and a loose joint or hinge 7G coupling said frame h with a platform (I; substantially as set forth.

4:. In self-propelled rolling-stock or vehicles for use on common roads, the combination of two load-platforms a a; a single axle c, and driving-wheels 12 disposed under the center of said platforms; a lower platform (Z under each platform rigidly connected with the axle c; driving-motor machinery 0 fixed on the under platform d; a support 7 with play in it, between the platform a and frame cl for preventing the load-platform from tilting down or up; and an"intermcdiate platform 7t carrying the generator 11, provided with and supported upon the steering-wheels substantially as set forth.

5. In self-propelled rolling-stock or vehicles for use on common roads, the combination of a platform for carrying the load, supported by a single pair of wheels at or near the center, being the propelling-wheels, and

adapted to receive and carry the whole load; a frame below said platform rigidly fixed to the axle, and carrying the motor machinery,

and a front extended portion of the lower frame supported by wheels, constituting the steering-wheels, and carrying the generator; substantially as set forth.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two witnesses.

HENRY \VIIAQKE.

\Vitnesses:

Jorm IIENDLEY WALKER, FRANK Fnuirrwoon. 

